Аннотация: Napoleon III, the Romanov dynasty and the Imperial Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty. Historical essay
Napoleon III, the Romanov dynasty and the Imperial Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty. Historical essay
In the book "Crimean War", Eugene Tarle writes: "For Austria, the complete failure of its policy in the Crimean War [1853-1856] was only a kind of historical introduction to a number of serious disasters awaiting the country, the first of which was the attack on it by Napoleon III [in 1859 year] and, as a consequence of this act, the loss of almost all the North Italian possessions. For the Italian people, the outcome of the Crimean War predetermined the nature of the reunification process in the coming years, which led to the complete triumph of the Cavourian monarchical policy over revolutionary democratic politics, to the powerful intervention of Napoleon III in Italy and to the loss of two Italian regions - Savoy and Nice, annexed by the French emperor. "
The partition of the Commonwealth - the Rech Pospolita, the participation of the Russian Empire in anti-Napoleonic coalitions, the Hungarian campaign of 1849 made a complicated impression on Europe and added an ambiguous reputation segment into the Russia's reputation.
In the first half of the 19th century, both Great Britain and France were already industrialized powers.
These and other circumstances determined the real policy.
At the same time, the above statement by Eugene Tarle, which combines the Crimean War of 1853-1856 and the war of Napoleon III against the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1859), prompts hypothetical, partly speculative and fantastic reflections on the interconnection of Napoleon III"s policies and destinies of the Romanov dynasty and the imperial (emperor) Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty (the dynasty of the Austrian Habsburgs).
If we accept the hypothesis that one of the main motives of Napoleon III"s policy was revenge for the removal of Napoleon I (the Bonaparte dynasty) from power in France in 1815, then we can see not only the causes of the Crimean War, but also the reasons for the war against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy (1859).
At first glance, the outcome of the Crimean War was not so disastrous for Russia. But this is if to glance without emotions and from outside.
Inside Russia, the outcome of the Crimean War made the most catastrophical impression. Partly the lack of political experience in the broad masses of the population, and partly the rapid start of reforms by Alexander II allowed the ruling class to came out off the Crimean War of 1853 - 1856 relatively painlessly.
But when after the Crimean War came Port Arthur and the defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, a movement began - through the 1905 - towards 1917.
In this, partly fantastic view, one can see the beginning of the end of power of the Romanov dynasty in Russia - in the events of the Crimean War and in the politics of Napoleon III.
In 1815, when the Bonaparte dynasty was removed from power in France, one of the main roles was played by the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.
Moreover, the son of Napoleon I, the so-called Napoleon II, was born from the marriage of the French emperor with an Austrian princess and was the grandson of Francis I of Austria. Napoleon II did not have any power. He was brought up as an Austrian archduke. In 1832, the young man died from tuberculosis, and the cousin, the son of the former Dutch king Louis Bonaparte, Prince Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, headed the House of Bonaparte (the dynasty).
After a series of adventurous attempts to seize the power, Louis Napoleon was elected president of the French Second Republic in 1848, and in 1852 proclaimed himself as emperor Napoleon III (Second Empire).
In addition to the general political motives - in the case of the imperial Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty (Austrian Habsburgs) - a family motive was added.
The Crimean War put an end to trust between the Russian and Austro-Hungarian empires.
The war of 1859, launched by Napoleon III, showed the weakness of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. For the France the result of the 1859 war was the annexation of Nice and Savoy.
The defeat of Austria in 1859 was followed by the victory of Prussia over Austria in 1866.
The victories of France, Prussia, the loss of confidence in relations with Russia gradually put Austria-Hungary in a subordinate position in relation to the German Empire.
In the First World War, Austria-Hungary entered as the ally of the German Empire - against the combined forces of France, Great Britain, Russia (and the United States).
With a certain degree of a fantasticness, we can see the beginning of the end of the power of the imperial (emperor) Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty (the dynasty of the Austrian Habsburgs) in the actions of Napoleon III and even in the Crimean War (1853-1856).
The Bonaparte, the Romanov dynasties, the imperial (emperor) Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty (the dynasty of the Austrian Habsburgs) exist. But the monarchical state systems that they headed - are, now, a phenomenons in the past.
In this partially fantastic view, the 1815 year is followed by 1853-1856 and, then, are coming the 1905, the 1917-1918.
There is another aspect. Having not received any territorial acquisitions after the Crimean War of 1853-1856, Napoleon III began to create a Franco-Russian alliance. Napoleon III defeated the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1859 and annexed Savoy and Nice ...
Regardless of the desire or unwillingness of certain historical figures, a Franco-Russian (Anglo-French-Russian) union was created.
Napoleon III"s policies had various long-term consequences. The law of conservation (of saving) of historical impulse: "A historical impulse does not arise from nowhere, and does not disappear to nowhere, but is preserved in time."
October 8, 2019 13:03
Translation from Russian into English: October 8, 2019 15:10.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский "Наполеон III, династия Романовых и императорская Габсбургско-Лотарингская династия. Исторический очерк".